Pelargonium plant named ‘Dueviimplum’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Dueviimplum’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; freely flowering habit; large red purple-colored semi-double flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEVIIMPLUM’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Dueviimplum’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new freely-branching Zonal Geranium plantswith large attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in May, 2009 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-15-13, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPelargonium zonale identified as code number F-08-05, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plant was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since June, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dueviimplum’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Dueviimplum’ as a new and distinct ZonalGeranium plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large red purple-colored semi-double flowers.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more vigorous than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the female parent        selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely branching        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have lighter green-colored        leaves than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium are more freely flowering        than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants of ZonalGeranium ‘Bajazzo’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conductedin Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Zonal Geranium differedprimarily from plants of ‘Bajazzo’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had larger leaves than        plants of ‘Bajazzo’.    -   2. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium had lighter green-colored        leaves than plants of ‘Bajazzo’.    -   3. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium and ‘Bajazzo’ differed        slightly in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dueviimplum’ grown ina container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 12-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices which closely approximate commercial Pelargonium production.During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one timethree weeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph andthe description were taken. In the detailed description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Dueviimplum’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-15-13, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale×Pelargonium peltatum identified as code number            F-08-05, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Compact, semi-upright to outwardly            spreading plant habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit; freely basal branching habit with about four basal            branches developing per plant.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 29 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 12.1 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 2.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 7.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 145A. Zonation pattern: Not            discernible.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to            146B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;            umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles; flowers face mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit, about 16            flowers per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany, flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin            to flower about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5.4 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 8.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm by 4.8 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.4 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 62A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            When opening, upper surface: Close to 57A and 45A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 58D. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 57A and 45A; towards the base, close to            155D; color becoming closer to 61A with development. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 57C; color becoming closer            to 61A with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About 1.5 cm.            Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Base:            Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 66A. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 66C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Color, upper surface: Close to 144A tinted with close to            39A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A tinted with close            to 41A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 14 cm. Diameter: About            4.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.9 cm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 53A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About five. Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color:            Close to 62A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther color: Close to 83A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per flower:            One. Pistil length: About 8 mm. Stigma shape: Parted. Stigma            color: Close to 53A. Style length: About 2 mm. Style color:            Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Zonal Geranium.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind,    and temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named‘Dueviimplum’ as illustrated and described.